If you’ve ever tried to switch business energy and had a supplier ask for your MPAN or MPRN, you know how stressful five minutes of bill-hunting can feel. This 2026 guide is the deepest plain-English breakdown of what these numbers mean, what every digit actually encodes, where to find them, and how to look them up if your bill is missing. We also cover what changes when you take over premises (change of tenancy) and what to do if your meter is replaced.
This article is a comprehensive companion to our shorter MPAN & MPRN business meter primer — we’ll go deeper on the digit-by-digit structure of an MPAN here so you can decode any UK electricity supply number from the bill alone. For switching mechanics, see our Letter of Authority guide.
What is an MPAN?
MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration Number. It’s also called the “Supply Number”, an “S-number”, or, less formally, the “long supply number”. Every electricity supply point in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) has a unique 21-digit MPAN. It identifies the supply point — not the meter — so it stays the same even if you change supplier or have your meter swapped.
An MPAN is allocated and maintained by the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for your region: UK Power Networks (London/East/South East), Northern Powergrid (North East/Yorks), SP Energy Networks (Central/South Scotland and Mersey/Cheshire), Electricity North West (NW England), National Grid Electricity Distribution (Midlands/SW/Wales), SSEN (South/Scottish Highlands), or independent ICPs/IDNOs.
The MPAN is split into two visible lines on most bills:
- Top line (8 digits): encodes how the meter is treated for industry settlement — profile class, meter time-switch code, line loss factor.
- Bottom line (13 digits): the unique meter-point identifier — distributor ID, unique supply ID and a check digit.
What the top 8 digits of an MPAN mean (digit by digit)
The top line of an MPAN looks like 03-805-101 with three groups of digits. Each group encodes something different:
- Digits 1-2 = Profile Class (PC). A code from 00 to 08 describing the consumption shape.
00= Half-hourly metered (advanced metering, settled half-hourly).01= Domestic unrestricted.02= Domestic Economy 7.03= Non-domestic unrestricted — the typical small-to-medium UK business with a single-rate meter.04= Non-domestic Economy 7.05-08= Non-domestic with maximum demand (MD) metering, used for medium and large businesses with bigger loads.
- Digits 3-5 = Meter Time-switch Code (MTC). A 3-digit code identifying the meter type and tariff structure (single-rate, day/night, evening & weekend, half-hourly Time-of-Use, etc.). Codes are maintained by ELEXON.
- Digits 6-8 = Line Loss Factor Class (LLFC). A 3-digit code from your DNO that estimates how much electricity is lost in the local network between grid and meter. Used to true-up settlement.
So an MPAN starting 03-805-101 means: non-domestic unrestricted (PC 03), MTC 805 (a specific single-rate meter type), LLFC 101 (a low-voltage suburban network loss factor). Suppliers and brokers reading your top line can immediately tell whether you’re a half-hourly (PC 00), maximum-demand (PC 05-08) or standard SME (PC 03/04) meter and price your quote accordingly.
What the bottom 13 digits of an MPAN mean
The bottom line of an MPAN is the unique core of the supply number. It’s split into:
- Digits 1-2 = Distributor ID. A 2-digit code identifying your DNO. Common ones:
10= Eastern (UK Power Networks)11= East Midlands (NGED)12= London (UK Power Networks)13= Merseyside & North Wales (SP Energy Networks)14= Midlands (NGED)15= Northern (Northern Powergrid)16= North West (Electricity North West)17= Northern Scotland (SSEN)18= Southern Scotland (SP Energy Networks)19= Southern (SSEN)20= South East (UK Power Networks)21= South Wales (NGED)22= South West (NGED)23= Yorkshire (Northern Powergrid)24-30= various IDNOs (Independent Distribution Network Operators)
- Digits 3-12 = Unique meter point ID. A 10-digit number assigned by the DNO. Sequentially issued.
- Digit 13 = Check digit. A modulus-11 check used to validate that the rest of the number was typed correctly. Stops typos creating invalid switches.
Put together: the bottom line 10 1234567890 7 means UK Power Networks (Eastern region) supply point 1234567890 with check digit 7. That uniquely identifies this meter point anywhere in Great Britain.
What is an MPRN?
MPRN stands for Meter Point Reference Number and identifies your gas supply point. Same idea as an MPAN but for gas. It’s also called the “M-number” or “gas supply number”.
An MPRN is between 6 and 10 digits long — older legacy supply points are 6-7 digits; modern supplies are 8-10 digits. It’s issued and maintained by Xoserve (the central gas industry data agent) on behalf of the gas distribution networks: Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN and Wales & West Utilities.
Unlike electricity, the MPRN doesn’t have a structured digit-by-digit code — it’s a single sequential identifier. Some bills format it with spaces (e.g. 1234 5678 90) for readability but the digits run together.
Where to find your MPAN and MPRN
On your electricity bill
The MPAN normally lives in a panel labelled “Supply Number”, “S Number” or sometimes “MPAN Reference”. It’s usually on page 1 in the top right or bottom of the bill. The classic layout:
S | 03 805 101 | 10 1234567890 7
The top row is the 8 digits of metadata; the bottom row is the 13-digit unique identifier including the leading distributor ID.
On your gas bill
The MPRN is labelled “Meter Point Reference”, “MPRN”, or sometimes “M Number”. Single sequence of 6-10 digits, no structured layout.
On the meter itself
For electricity, the MPAN is sometimes printed on a sticker near the meter or inside the meter cabinet door. For gas, the MPRN is rarely physically on the meter but the meter serial number (different) usually is.
If you can’t find them
Don’t panic — both are looked up via the central industry data flows:
- Electricity (MPAN lookup): Call your regional Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS) helpline. Each DNO runs an MPAS team that will give you your MPAN over the phone with proof of address. Numbers are listed on every DNO’s website. Alternatively, your incoming supplier can pull it from the ECOES industry database during onboarding.
- Gas (MPRN lookup): Call Xoserve’s Find My Supplier service on 0870 608 1524, or use the online MPRN lookup at findmysupplier.energy. You give them your address and they return the MPRN and current registered supplier.
Why suppliers need MPAN and MPRN to switch you
UK energy switching uses these numbers as the unique key to pick the right supply point in the central industry registers (ECOES for electricity, SPAA/Xoserve for gas). Without them, your incoming supplier can’t register against the right meter, and the switch either fails objection or registers against the wrong premises.
The supplier won’t typically take the bill at face value either — they’ll cross-check the MPAN/MPRN, your business name, the address and the existing supplier in the central data flows before registering. That’s why you also sign a Letter of Authority giving the broker permission to look up the data on your behalf.
Change of tenancy: what happens to MPAN and MPRN
The MPAN and MPRN are tied to the premises, not to the business or person occupying them. When you take over an existing UK business premises:
- The MPAN/MPRN stay the same.
- The previous occupier deregisters as the responsible party at their move-out date.
- You register with your chosen supplier from your move-in date — usually onto a deemed contract first, then a fresh fixed contract once the supplier has confirmed your details.
For a clean change of tenancy, see our change of tenancy guide. The most common error is forgetting to take a meter read on day 1 — this leads to estimated bills and disputes.
If the premises are brand new (new build, never had a supply), a brand new MPAN is created by the DNO during the connection process. Your developer or ICP runs the application; it takes 4-12 weeks plus connection works. Same for new gas connections via your GTC/iGT or local gas distribution network.
What if my meter is replaced or upgraded?
Replacing a meter does not change your MPAN or MPRN. The supply point identifier stays. What changes is the meter serial number (a separate identifier that travels with the physical hardware) and possibly some of the top-line MPAN metadata (MTC code, profile class) if the meter type fundamentally changes — for instance going from a single-rate non-half-hourly meter to a half-hourly CT meter on the same supply.
For half-hourly upgrades specifically, see our half-hourly meters guide and the regulatory background on wholesale prices that drive when HH makes sense.
MPAN and MPRN for multi-site businesses
Each physical meter point at each physical premises has its own MPAN/MPRN. A pub group with 50 sites has 50 electricity MPANs and (if every site has gas) 50 gas MPRNs — 100 supply numbers in total. Always keep a master spreadsheet with site, address, MPAN, MPRN, current supplier, contract end date and 12-month consumption. Without it, multi-site procurement is genuinely impossible. See our multi-site meters guide for the full template.
Frequently Asked Questions
Always 21 digits, displayed as two lines on a bill: an 8-digit top line (profile class, MTC, line loss factor) and a 13-digit bottom line (distributor ID, unique meter point ID and a single check digit). The 21-digit count includes both lines together.
Between 6 and 10 digits. Older gas supplies (typically pre-1996) often have 6-7 digit MPRNs; modern supplies have 8-10 digits. There’s no internal structure — it’s a single sequential identifier issued by Xoserve.
Call your regional DNO’s Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS) team. They’ll give you the MPAN over the phone with proof of address. Alternatively, the supplier you’re switching to can pull it from the ECOES industry database with a signed Letter of Authority.
Use the Xoserve Find My Supplier service at findmysupplier.energy or call 0870 608 1524. You enter your address and it returns the MPRN plus the current registered supplier. Free of charge for business and domestic customers.
No. The MPAN identifies the supply point, not the supplier or the meter hardware. It stays with the premises through every supplier switch and every meter replacement. Only a fundamental physical change to the supply (new build, demolition, network reconfiguration) creates a new MPAN.
The first two digits are the Profile Class. 00 means half-hourly metered (advanced); 01-02 are domestic; 03-04 are non-domestic standard meters (most SMEs); 05-08 are non-domestic with maximum-demand metering, used for medium and large businesses. A supplier or broker glancing at your MPAN top line can tell instantly which pricing book to quote you out of.
Need to switch supplier and unsure of your MPAN/MPRN? Run a free 60-second business energy comparison — we’ll look up missing supply numbers for you, or call 0333 015 2615 for a UK-based energy advisor.
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